Chicken recalled after metal bits found
Fort Smith-based OK Foods Inc. is recalling nearly 467 tons of breaded chicken reported to contain bits of metal.
The chicken was sent to retailers and institutions across the U.S., according to a release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Consumers are warned not to eat the product and are asked to either return it to the place of purchase or throw it away.
The ready-to-eat chicken was produced at the company's Oklahoma City plant between mid-December and March 7 and includes the number "P-7092" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The problem was discovered on Tuesday after OK Foods received five customer complaints. An internal investigation showed the objects in all the complaints came from metal conveyor belting, according to a release.
OK Foods acquired the production plant for fully cooked chicken in November from the American Foods Group for $8 million. OK Foods employs more than 3,000 people in its operations in Arkansas and Oklahoma. It was acquired by Mexico-based Industrias Bachoco, one of the world's top chicken producers, in 2011.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Abby Brown with OK Foods at (479) 312-2409.
-- John Magsam
Restaurant slowdown hits pizza upstarts
A push by upstart restaurant chains to challenge the dominance of Domino's Pizza Inc. and Pizza Hut isn't going well.
Pie Five, a business that's attempting to bring a fast-casual approach to pizza, is closing locations in Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. The Wisconsin-based Toppers Pizza chain, meanwhile, is closing four locations in the Chicago area.
"It's just tough," said Michael Halen, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. "They could be opening in bad locations, or bumping up against mom-and-pop places that have a strong customer base."
Domino's has used technology such as mobile ordering to solidify its market share. And a broader restaurant slump has made it hard for upstarts to find their footing.
Texas-based Pie Five is closing 14 locations. Its same-store sales -- a key indicator -- tumbled 17 percent in the most recent quarter. The company blamed the broader industry slowdown, as well as more competition.
Pie Five, owned by Rave Restaurant Group Inc., said in February that rivals are taking a bite out of sales. "Increased competition within the fast-casual segment and general industry softness contributed to weakened trends," the company said at the time.
-- Bloomberg News
Turkey restricts sale of 'obscene' Elle
The Turkish edition of Elle Magazine faces sales restrictions after a government committee found this month's issue to contain "obscene content."
After the penalties come into effect, the publication can only be sold inside paper or plastic envelopes, and only to those 18 years of age or older. It will be required to carry a "Harmful to Minors" notice on its cover -- currently graced by a photo of supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley -- and will not be allowed to advertise.
The restrictions are being imposed after images and articles in the March issue were deemed to be injurious to the morality of those under the age of 18, according to a notice published on Friday by the Prime Ministry's Office to Protect Children from Obscene Publications. The announcement wasn't specific about which items had offended.
Elle's publisher in Turkey is Dogan Burda Dergi, the country's leading publisher of magazines by market share. It hasn't yet received notice of the government's decision, board member Mehmet Yakup Yilmaz said. As soon as the penalties are formally communicated the company will appeal them, he said.
-- Bloomberg News
Chinese group to buy 21% of SeaWorld
China's Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co. agreed to acquire a 21 percent equity stake in SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. from Blackstone Group LP, becoming the U.S. theme-park operator's largest shareholder.
The Asian leisure and tourism holding company will pay Blackstone $23 a share, a 33 percent premium to SeaWorld's closing price of $17.31 Thursday. The stake would be valued at $429.1 million based on 88,835,076 shares outstanding, according to Bloomberg data.
SeaWorld Chief Executive Officer Joel Manby, in a statement, said Zhonghong's long-term investment reflects confidence in the company's brand and a shared commitment to "protect wildlife and the environment."
SeaWorld, which owns 12 theme parks, including its namesake attractions, has battled negative publicity after the 2013 release of the documentary Blackfish, which argued killer whales shouldn't be kept in captivity. After two years of declining attendance, the Orlando, Fla.-based company replaced its chief executive in 2015 with Manby, who formerly ran Dollywood. For his part, Manby ended whale breeding at the parks and is investing in more nonanimal attractions, such as roller coasters and ocean-themed rides.
-- Bloomberg News
U.S. shale to back up Europe gas supply
The heart of Europe's gas market may finally get a helping hand from the American shale revolution as fuel is poised to cross the Atlantic to replenish depleted inventories after the coldest January in seven years.
Northwest Europe, one of the biggest trading regions for the fuel, hasn't yet attracted any liquefied natural gas cargoes from the U.S., which the shale boom turned into the world's biggest gas producer. So far, sellers have favored markets in South America and Asia where prices have been higher.
But that may be about to change with spring weather poised to damp demand and prices in the biggest consuming region of Japan and South Korea moving closer to those in the U.K. and the Netherlands. Supplies from the U.S. may arrive in the coming months to help replenish European stocks at their lowest level since 2013, according to Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc., which is expanding its export plant in Louisiana.
"U.S. gas will find an obvious home in Europe once most other markets are filled up," Trevor Sikorski, head of natural gas and carbon at Energy Aspects Ltd. in London, said by email. "There should be lots of gas as three trains should be operating for most of summer 2017" at Cheniere, he said.
-- Bloomberg News
Business on 03/25/2017